Alexander Rossi, a Nevada City native and rookie driver who is fresh off his Indy 500 championship, is looking to improve on his win at the Grand Prix of Sonoma at the Sonoma Raceway.

Alexander Rossi, a Nevada City native and rookie driver who is fresh off his Indy 500 championship, is looking to improve on his win at the Grand Prix of Sonoma at the Sonoma Raceway.

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Updated: 7:52 AM PDT Sep 9, 2016

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WEBVTT WITH THE ROOKIE AS HE TOOK TO THE TRACK FOR THE FIRST TIME. MICHELLE: ANDRETTI AUTO SPORTS ROOKIE ALEXANDER ROSSI. >> HE FITS IN WELL WITH US. MICHELLE: SOLIDIFYING A SPOT AFTER WINNING THE INDY 500. BUT FOR ROSSI, THAT HISTORIC RACE NOW BELONGS IN HIS REAR-VIEW MIRROR. >> IT'S DIFFICULT DURING THE SEASON TO KIND OF REFLECT ON THINGS. YOU'RE THINKING FORWARD. MICHELLE: THE RACE SCHEDULE MOVES ON. THIS SEASON, FINAL STOP ROLLING INTO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. ROSSI SET TO STAR HIS ENGINE MAKING HIS SONOMA DEBUT. >> IT'S EXCITING TO GIVE THEM GLIMPSE. MICHELLE: A HOMECOMING THAT INCLUDED A RESOLUTION NAMED IN HIS HONOR ON WEDNESDAY. >> I HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE STATE CAPITOL SINCE FIFTH GRADE. MICHELLE: AT THE TRACK, PLENTY OF SUPPORT FOR THE HOMETOWN HERO. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE AWARE OF WHAT I WAS DOING GROWING UP. I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO RACE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR, MY RETURN TO RACING IN THE STATE AND ACTUALLY THE INDY 500, IT CAME FULL CIRCLE. MICHELLE: IT'S NO SECRET, A ROOKIE YEAR BATTLING THE TWISTS AND THE TURNS. >> IT'S DIFFICULT. IN THE MONTH OF MAY, IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF STRUGGLES. WE HAD A LOT OF CHALLENGES TO OVERCOME DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. MICHELLE: AND WHILE THE INDYCAR TITLE IS NOWHERE IN SIGHT -- >> HE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO APPRECIATE THE RACE MORE AND MORE AS HE GROWS. MICHELLE: ROSSI'S FUTURE IS CERTAINLY BRIGHT. SO ALEXANDER GETS TO ENJOY A FEW DAYS OFF, HE HEADS TO GRASS VALLEY AND NEVADA CITY THIS WEEKEND FOR A HOMECOMING, BUT SWITCHES GEARS NEXT WEEK. IT'S ALL RACE MODE AS THEY LOOK

NorCal native looks to improve on Indy 500 title

Alexander Rossi, a Nevada City native and rookie driver who is fresh off his Indy 500 championship, is looking to improve on his win at the Grand Prix of Sonoma at the Sonoma Raceway.